Himachal Pradesh celebrates Republic Day with fervor

64th Republic Day was celebrated with great enthusiasm and fervour throughout Himachal Pradesh today. Functions were organized at State, District, and Sub-Divisional level to mark the occasion. Hoisting of Flags, impressive march-past, cultural programmes were highlights of the functions organized throughout the State.

At Shimla

State-level function was held at the historic Ridge Maidan here today. Governor Urmila Singh unfurled the National Flag and took salute at an impressive march-past presented by the contingents of Army Regiments, ITBP, SSB, Police, Home- Guards, , NCC and Ex-servicemen, Scouts and NSS.

Major Parjodh Singh Cheema, 20-Sikh Regiment commanded the parade.

The tableaux exhibited by various Departments were main highlights of the function. Cultural programmes were presented by various cultural troupes of the State and Information and Public Relations Department besides Song and Drama Division, Shimla .

Speaker, H.P. Vidhan Sabha Brij Behari Lal Butail presiding over the district-level Republic Day function at Hamirpur felicitated the people on this auspicious occasion. He remembered the contributions made by freedom fighters and Constitution makers.

While addressing the people, Butail said that an ambitious drinking water supply scheme would be constructed at a cost of Rs. 64 crore, which would be beneficial to the people of Hamirpur town. He said that after completion of this scheme, 135 litre per day per person water supply would be provided to the population of Hamirpur town.

Butail expressed gratitude to the Central Government for announcing Padam Shri to Olympic medalist Vijay Kumar, who hails from Hamirpur district.

Vidya Stokes, Irrigation and Public Health Minister said that problems of rural people would be solved on priority basis and added that new irrigation schemes would be constructed to provide better irrigation facilities to the farmers. She said that effective implementation of cash subsidy scheme would be ensured and AADHAR cards to the people of State were being prepared and out of total 68 lakh people, 54 lakh had been provided these cards.

She said that it was the endeavour of the Government to provide safe drinking water facilities to every household. Target has been fixed to provide 70 litres drinking water per person per day in the State, whereas the national percentage is 55 litres per person per day. All the left out 10,725 habitations out of total 53,201 habitations would be provided safe drinking water during next five years, she added.

Presiding over the district-level Republic Day function at Bilaspur, Kaul Singh Thakur, Health and Family Welfare Minister said that IRDP families would be provided free medicines in the hospitals and 35 news ambulances would be purchased to strengthen the 108 ambulance service in the State especially in the rural areas.

Keeping in view the accident prone area, trauma centre would be opened in District Hospital, Bilaspur and sufficient staff would be deployed in this hospital. Thakur said that land to the 364 Bhakra Dam Oustees would be provided in selected two sectors near HRTC workshop.

G.S. Bali, Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs Minister while presiding over the Republic Day function announced that an Indian Institute of Information Technology (IIIT) would be opened with collaboration of Government and Corporate sector with a cost of Rs. 100 crore in Una district and this would be the 8th IIIT of the country. He also announced to start a new bus service from famous Shaktipeeth Chintpurni to Chandigarh and Chandigarh to Chintpurni.

Bali said that during next five years, four percent area under irrigation facilities would be increased, so that dependence of farmers on rain could be reduced. He said that drinking water supply facilities would be strengthened and 70 litres per day per person drinking water supply would be ensured. He said that 86 buses of HRTC providing comfortable travelling facilities in 124 routes in the district besides 291 private buses. Six Watershed Development Projects costing Rs. 53.45 crore had been sanctioned in the district, which would benefit 35,636 hectares of land.

Sujan Singh Pathania, MPP and Power Minister said that top priority would be given to agriculture and horticulture sector as agriculture and other allied activities are major source of livelihood of 90 percent people of the State. He said that quality seeds would be provided to the farmers at subsidized rates and cold storage and marketing facilities would be enhanced.

Pathania said that the Government is planning to formulate a plan in hydroelectric generation sector and 5000 MW power would be generated during next five years. Highlighting the importance of road in strengthening the economy especially in rural areas, Pathania said that 7500 kms new roads would be constructed to connect all the villages with population of more than 100 persons during next five years.

Thakur Singh Bharmouri, Forest Minister presiding over district-level Republic Day function at Nahan said that the Government had decided to frame a new policy for regularization of PTAs and PAT teachers. He said that this decision of the State Government would benefit thousands of teachers serving in the State.

Bharmouri said that the State has rich cultural traditions and efforts would be made to promote rural, tribal and culture tourism. The State Government would provide training to 5000 persons as guide, who would be appointed at village level, which will strengthen the rural economy besides highlighting and preserving rural culture, he added.

Dr. Rajiv Bindal, Baldev Tomar, Suresh Kashyap, MLAs, Kush Parmar, Harshwardhan Chauhan, Ajay Bahadur, ex MLAs, freedom fighters and prominent people of the area were also present on the occasion.

At Dharamshala

Mukesh Agnihotri, Industries, Information and Public Relations Minister presided over the district-level Republic Day function at Dharamshala and felicitated the people of the State on 64th Republic Day.

Mukesh Agnihotri said that new industrial policy 2013 would be formulated soon to strengthen the industrial activities in the State. He said that international-level seminar of industrialists would be organized soon to invite industrialists in the State to set up their units.

Mukesh Agnihotri said that Land Banks were being set up in the State to provide land for new industrial units and approval process for giving sanctions would be simplified, so that more and more investors could come and invest in the State.

Industries Minister said that pollution free, income generating and employment oriented industrial units would be set up and employment to local people in these units would be ensured.

Sudhir Sharma, Urban Development Minister said that Government is committed to provide transparent, clean and responsive government. He said that better parking facilities would be provided in the Mandi town to facilitate the commuters. He said that the endeavour of the Government is to provide shelter to all. He added that housing problems of the people would be solved on priority basis.

Urban Development Minister said that new housing colonies would also be set up in various parts of the State besides constructing commercial complexes.

Presiding over district-level Republic Day function at Kullu, Prakash Chaudhary, Excise and Taxation Minister said that the Government has announced to provide free travelling facilities to the students of government educational institutions and also enhanced social security pension from Rs. 450 to Rs. 500 per month, which would go a long way to help the students and beneficiaries of social security pension scheme respectively.

Excise and Taxation Minister said that 12th Five Years Plan for the State has been fixed at Rs. 22,800 crore, which is 65 percent higher than 11th Five Years Plan. This hike is highest for any State in the country, he added. Speedy, balanced and all-round development of the State would be ensured by implementing various welfare schemes effectively, he added.

Addressing the people on the occasion, Bharati said that Rs. 52.58 crore were being spent in the district under Tribal Sub Plan during this year. He said that Government is committed to provide health care facilities to the people and 89 health institutions were catering the need of the people in the district.

Bharati said that election manifesto of the Congress Party had been adopted as Policy Document by the Government and all the promises would be fulfilled in a phased manner.

Republic Day function was organised at Keylong, headquarter of Lahaul & Spiti district, where S.S. Guleria, Deputy Commissioner unfurled the National Flag and took salute by the impressive march past by the contingents of Police, Home Guard, NCC, NSS, Scouts and Guides and students of Central School Keylong.

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